Thorpe Fell Top

The walk up Thorpe Fell Top rewards you with one of the best views across the Yorkshire Dales without the scramble of the bigger peaks. It's a proper fell top - moorland, wind, and proper vistas - sitting just north of Skipton in the heart of walking country.

From the summit you're looking out across Wharfedale towards Pen-y-ghent and the broader Dales landscape. On a clear day it's worth every step. The approach is straightforward moorland walking, mostly on established paths, so it suits families with older kids and anyone after a decent afternoon rather than an epic expedition. Allow a couple of hours to get up and back down without rushing.

There's no visitor centre or facilities at the top itself - bring water and a snack. It's free, naturally, being fell land. Best visited in drier months when the ground underfoot isn't a bog, so spring through autumn works well.

Stay at one of the local campsites and you're perfectly placed. Wharfedale Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite is just three miles away, or Howgill Lodge if you want something more compact. Bolton Abbey Estate Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite sits at 3.8 miles and gives you access to the broader Dales network without feeling like you're based in a town.

It's not flashy or famous, and that's exactly why it's worth doing. Most people heading to the Dales chase Whernside or Pen-y-ghent. Thorpe Fell Top gets the walkers who actually know the area.